Conduit cleaning apparatus



June-24, 1969 R. F. L o PREST| ET AL l 3,451,090

CONDU i P CLEAN l Nlj APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1957 United States Patent O 3,451,090 CONDUIT CLEANING APPARATUS Roy F. Lo Presti and Charles T. Ogden, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to Conco Inc., Mendota, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 680,759 Int. Cl. F28g 3/12; B08b 9/02 U.S. Cl. 15-104.3 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention The Iblocking of drain pipes, or tiles, in sewer systems by obstructions such as roots, or the like, has long been of the pipe at a much faster rate than can be obtained with the use of currently known apparatus.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus of the sewer cleaning type including a tool adapted to be rotatably and longitudinally moved through a drain tile or the like to clean the same, a supply of cable connected to the tool and contained within a drum, a drive means for rotating the dru-m and thus the cable, and means for feeding the cable including at least one roller engaging the periphery of the cable and having its axis of rotation disposed atan acute angle in non-parallel and non-transverse relationship to the longtiudinal axis of the cable.

Yet another object is the provision of an apparatus such as that set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein at least two such rollers are provided and are located on opposite sides of the cable.

A still further object is the provision of an apparatus such as that set forth immediately preceding wherein one of the rollers is mounted for movement toward or away from the cable.

A further object is the provision of an apparatus such as that set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein a handle is provided for locating the movable roller and a perplexing problem to home owners. In order to clear v is imparted to the cable to rotate the tool andthe cable is also fed along its longitudinal axis within the pipe to -feed the tool through the pipe.

To impart rotation to the cable, motor means are conventionally associated therewith. In theV past, various means have been provided for feeding the rotating cable along its longtiudinal axis to advance the work performing member. Typical of such means are the so-called split-nut device and the gear box feed mechanism which are well known in the art. The split-nutf device takes advantage of the rotation imparted tothe ca-ble by motor means for advancing the cable along its longitudinal axis. There is also an apparatus whichrmay `be termed a rotatable split-nut device and typicaly utilizes a pair of helically grooved rotatable rollers which engage the surface of the cable. Because the cable is typically formed of a tightly coiled wire spring, the convolutions thereof ride within the grooves of the rotating helical rollers and the cable is fed thereby.

While the rotatable split-nut devices are capable of feeding the cable at a somewhat faster rate ,than the socalled split-nut devices, the feeding of cable into the pipe or tile to the point of obstruction is limited'by the pitch of the cable and is a time-consuming process and unnecessarily costly in time of the operator. Similarly, after the tile has been cleared, the feeding of the cable out of the tile is unduly time-consuming.

Summary of the invention It is a principal object of the invention of providing a new `and improved apparatus for cleaning conduits, such as sewer pipe or the like.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved apparatus of the sewercleaning type that is capable of feeding cable into or out for holding the same against the cable whereby feeding of the cable may be halted by manipulating the handle to move the roller away from the cable.

Other objects and advantages will Ibecome apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conduit cleaning apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a feeding means used on the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the feeding means;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary fro-nt elevation of the feeding means.

Description of the preferred embodiment An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is seen to comprise a base, generally designated 10, which pivotally mounts at 12 a yoke 14. Rotatably mounted in turn on the yoke 14 is a cable drum 16 of known type which contains a supply of an elongated cable 18 which may be typically in the form of a tightly coiled spring several feet in length and which has a helical groove 19 between convolutions of the spring. One end of the cable 18 is connected to a cleaning tool 20 of known construction.

Motor means, generally designated 22, are arranged to rotate the drum 16 and thereby rotate the cable 18 and the tool 20. The foregoing construction is typical of many different constructions that can use the novel structure disclosed hereinafter.

Novel feeding means generally designated 24 are provided to utilize the rotation imparted to the drum 16 and the cable 18 by the motor means 22 to advance or retract the cable 18 and thus the work performing member 20 through a pipe to be cleaned.

Turning now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the feeding means 24 aresecured to the bight of the -yoke 14 by means of bolts 26 passing through apertures (not shown) in a mounting plate 28 into threaded apertures (not shown) in the bight of the yoke 14. The mounting plate 28 generally conforms to the shape of the bight of the yoke 14 and includes an angularly offset portion 30 mounting a boss 32 having a threaded bore (not shown) therein.

A socket screw 34 is threadingly received within the bore of the boss 32 to pivotally mount a handle 36. To

permit the handle 36 to be easily pivoted, a washer 38 is interposed between the handle 36 and the socket 34. Intermediate the ends of the handle 36 and adjacent to midpoint of the bight of the yoke 14 there is provided a boss 40 having a threaded bore (not shown) therein. The handle 36 includes an aligned bore (not shown) and the two bores in turn receive a socket screw 42 which rotatably mounts a roller 44. Washers 46 are impaled by the socket screw 42 on either side of the roller 44 to reduce friction when the roller `44 rotates about its rotatable axis defined by the socket screw 42.

Turning now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a second roller 48 is rotatably mounted on the mounting plate 28 in such a manner that the cable 18 may be located between the nip formed by the rollers 44 and 48. In other words, the roller 48 is located about the periphery of the cable 18 about 180 from the roller 44. The roller 48 is mounted for rotation on the mounting plate 28 by means of a boss arrangement, generally designated 50 secured to the plate 28 and which is similar to the boss arrangement 32 mounting the handle 36 except that the roller 48 is mounted directly on the boss 50. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, both of the rollers 44 and 48 have a generally smooth cable engaging surface for engaging the periphery of the cable and which do not have abrupt edges or ridges capable of drivingly engaging the helical groove 19 of the cable 18.

The mounting -arrangement of the rollers 44 and 48 is such that the axis of rotation of the roller 44 is non-parallel and non-transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cable and as seen in FIG. 3, the boss arrangement 50 rotatably mounting the roller 48 is such that the axis of rotation of the latter is non-parallel and non-transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cable and more specifically, such that the axis of rotation of the roller 48 is disposed at an acute angle equal to the acute angle between the axis of rotation of the roller 44 and the longitudinal axis of the cable 18 but in the opposite direction as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

When the cable 18 is rotated through rotation of the drum 16 by the motor means 22, rotation of the cable 18 will act upon the rollers 44 and 48 and the reaction of the rollers against the cable 18 will cause the cable 18 to move along its longitudinal axis. Referring to FIG. 2, if the cable is rotated in the direction of the arrow S2, the cable 18 and thus the tool 20 will be fed into a pipe. On the other hand, if the motor means 22 is operated to cause the cable 18 to be rotated in the direction of the arrow 54, the cable 18 will be fed along its longitudinal axis into the drum 16. Again, the reaction by the rollers 44 and 48 and the cable 18 caused by the rotation of the latter causes such feeding.

In order to maintain the cable 18 located between the nip of the rollers 44 and 48 during cable rotation, a pair of guide bosses S6 best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, are mounted on the plate 28 to be disposed oppositely of each other about the cable 18 and between the rollers 44 and 48. The guide bosses 56 may include relieved portions 58 in their peripheries to preclude interference with the rollers 44 and 48 if necessary. Of course, if more than two rollers were to be used, the guide bosses 56 could be omitted while, on the other hand, if but a single roller were to be used, the guide bosses 56 could be relocated or additional guide bosses provided.

In order to locate the cable 18 in the nip between the rollers 44 and 48, an elongated generally vertical slot 60 (FIG. 2) is provided in the mounting plate 28. Thus, by swinging the handle 36 about its pivotal axis as provided by the socket screw 34, free access to the nip may be achieved.

In operation, the cable 18 is located in the nip between the rollers 44 and 48 in the manner just described and the handle 36 manipulated so as to bring the roller 44 into engagement with the periphery of the cable 18. Upon such engagement, the cable 18 will be held tightly in the nip between the rollers 44 and 48 and will be fed into or out of the pipe, depending upon the direction of rotation of the cable 18. If at any time, it is desired to halt the feeding of the cable, the same can be achieved merely by manipulating the handle 36 to move the roller 44 out of engagement with the periphery of the cable 18.

If desired, a latch 62 pivoted at point `64 to the bight of the yoke 14 as seen in FIG. 2 may be provided to overlie the cable 18 to preclude the same from leaving the slot 54. In the event it is desired to remove the cable 18 from the slot 54, the latch 56 need only be rotated in a clockwise direction about the pivot point 58.

The advantages of the above-described construction in terms of `an increase in feed rates is exemplified by the comparison of applicants construction with prior art devices in the following table.

TYPICAL FEED RATE COMPARISONS Rotatable Applicants Split nut split nut construction Case I.-Cable r.p.m.=200, wire dia.=.l25:

Max. feed rate (fpm.) 2.08 l 4.16 2 23. 6 Time to feed it. (minutes) 48 124 2 4. 25 Case II.-Cable r.p.m.=300, wire dia.=.125:

Max. feed rate (fpm.) 3.125 l G. 25 2 35. 4 Time to feed 100 ft. (minutes) 32 l 16 2 2. 8 Case IIL-Cable r.p.m.=200, wire dia.=.177:

Max. feed rate (f.p.m.) 2. 783 l 5. 566 3 42.7 Time to feed 100 ft. (minutes) 35. 8 1 17. 9U 3 3. 05 Case IV.-Cable r.p.m.=300, wire dia=.177:

Max. feed rate (fpm.) 4. 425 l 8.850 3 4) Time to feed 100 ft. (minutes) 22. 6 l 11. 3 3 2. 04

1 Pitch diameter of cable is equal to pitch diameter of feed rollers. d? Feeld rollers canted at 45 to longitudinal axis of cable and 1%2 cable rame er.

3 Feed rollers cantcd at 45 to longitudinal axis of cable and cable diameter.

From the foregoing table it will be appreciated that the time required to feed a given length of cable with applicants apparatus is about one-tenth or less of the time required to feed the same length of cable with the socalled split-nut type of construction. Additionally, it will be appreciated that an apparatus made according to the invention can feed cable at a rate that is five or more times greater than the rate at which a rotatable splitnut construction can feed cable. Accordingly, the use of the device made according to the invention provides a significant time savings in feeding a tool through a pipe to an obstruction and will retract the cable from the pipe after the latter has been cleaned.

Having described a specific embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but rather, have our invention construed according to its true spirit as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the sewer cleaning type comprising: a tool adapted to be rotatably and longitudinally moved through a sewer or the like to clean the same; a rotatable drum; an elongated length of cable connected to said tool and contained within said drum, said cable comprising a tightly coiled spring having a helical groove between convolutions thereof; a drive means for rotating said drum and thus said cable; and means for feeding the cable relative to the drum including at least one roller engaging the periphery of the cable and having its axis of rotation disposed at an acute angle in a non-parallel and nontransverse relation to the longitudinal -axis of said cable, said roller having a generally smooth cable engaging surface drivingly engaging the outermost periphery of the cable whereby the rate of advancement of the cable through a sewer or the like is dependent upon said acute angle and independent of the pitch of the coiled spring cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least two said rollers are provided and are mounted for rotation about axes located at positions spaced about the periphery of said cable.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further including means mounting at least one of said rollers for movement toward or away from said cable.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 further including means for maintaining said cable at a point between said rollers.

5. An apparatus of the sewer cleaning type comprising: a tool adapted to be rotatably and longitudinally moved through a sewer pipe or the like to clean the same; an elongated cable mounting said tool on one end thereof; means for rotating said cable; and means for feeding the cable including a roller having a generally smooth cable engaging surface engaging substantially only the outermost periphery of the cable and having its axis of rotation disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the cable and in non-parallel and non-transverse relationship whereby the rate of advancement of the cable through a sewer or the like is dependent upon said acute angle and independent of the geometric configuration of the cable.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for rotating the cable comprises a bi-directional motor.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 further including means mounting said feeding means for movement toward and away from said periphery of the cable.

8. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein the mounting means comprises a pivotally mounted elongated member having a handle portion and means securing said roller to said elongated member for rotation thereon.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 further including an additional roller engaging the periphery of said cable at a location opposite the point 4of engagement of said cable by said first-named roller, said additional roller having its axis of rotation disposed at an angle equal to said first-named acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said cable, and maintaining means including at least one boss located between said rollers and adjacent said cable for maintaining said cable between said rollers.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 further including a mounting plate mounting said elongated member, s-aid additional roller and said boss; said mounting plate being provided with a slot for receipt of said cable whereby said cable may be located between said rollers and adjacent said boss, and means for latching said cable in said slot.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 further including a drum for receiving said elongated cable and storing the same, said means for rotating said cable comprising means for rotating said drum; and means mounting said drum for rotation by said drum rotating means including a yoke, said mounting plate being secured to said yoke.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,298,051 1/1967 Ratlift.

FOREIGN PATENTS 770,079 3/ 1957 Great Britain.

EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner. 

